Burnt Chocolate

Freezing here but not frozen, maybe one more trip for some border country - survey the summer range fire and ride? OK. 525 is fresh with new fluids, brand new Maxxis desert IT and Neff is driving? I'm in.

Burnt Chocolate -

MrDualsport and Littlepossum are still out there - we got home about 11:30 pm last night.

Holy dust cloud Neff'r! I went into the poof dust and thought hed back off but he did just say how great the wind was blowing the dust away. We were heading into a canyon and the wind only packed and held the dust down between 8 foot tall sage in the draw. Thought I heard his KTM but knew he wasnt there so stopped and looked back for dust - nothing. Head back and he took a pitch off the bike into the brush. Professors photo:

Im waiting and looking . . . no dust.

Something mustve happened dang it . But saw this prow in perfect fall afternoon light and figured those guys wouldve probably stopped the bleeding so it was worth a photo.

Holy poof bomb Neff! He said, I know better than to just roost through unknown country until I get a feel for it.

Well said -

Thats exactly where it hurts huh?

We make a collective decision to escort Neff back to the camp. Wed left the house at 6:30 am, driven almost 300 miles and jumped on the bikes, first day . . . better take it safe and re-group.

Neff was a little rattled but a hot spring visit will solve any ailments hes gathered. Killurtv and I head out for an evening spin hoping to intercept our last one-third of this triton on their way to join us.

There had been consistent snow all the way from the start util we dropped into this basin -

It was fun poking around things wed spied from the main road but never taken the time to explore. Lots of water in the desert sometimes.

Killurtv forgot his moto boots and was lucky to have Professors Sorels for back up - no drama - lucky toes for this trip.

Roostafari

We romped around until we saw MrDualsport and LilPossum roll up with their rig. Cold night but Hot Spring and excitement for the next day. Were here for some of that post-range fire Burnt Chocolate!

Monday morning we awoke to a socked in sky spitting snow and rain. Cold and breezy, the moisture might hold down the dust a bit but not enough to saturate the &#8216;poof dust&#8217; sections. We hoped that it might warm up so we could attempt a summit tour up in the mountains, we take off for higher country just for a look-see.

Most of us had some kind of hand protection but Professor had to improvise with a beer box and zip ties. Whatever it takes.

We have 6 bikes in the group, waiting for the last 2 before we head upwards.

OK, here we go.

The weather report claimed there was a 30% chance of snow/rain so we weren&#8217;t too worried about taking a chance. Our first water crossing down below in those willows.

Some areas were burnt down to dust while the road and fire breaks that were built stopped the flames in other places.

We tried to find a way around a big ranch and their private property but turned off too early which took us right into one of the drainages that flows right back to the ranch so it was the first of many dead ends but still fun riding and exploring.

Must&#8217;ve been quite a sight to see the flames roaring up the canyon and torching the willows along the creek.

So back out the way we came.

Neffer

None of us besides MrDualsport had ridden with LittlePossum - she immediately proved that she was up for anything and is a very capable rider on her lowered DR.

Professor owns my old &#8216;95 KTM RXC 620 which is pulling as strong as ever.

We decided to abandon the upper parts of the area till tomorrow hoping that the sky would open up, the sun might come out and the snow would melt a bit. So we head back down the 10 or 15 miles to a big gravel road and head north along the base of the mountains for some dry desert cruising. MrDualsport:

Killurtv

Professor - WHOA doggie!

It was a frosty ride 15 or so miles at 65 mph to another 15 miles of awesome 2 track towards a seldom visited dry lake bed (playa). Neffer rolls up to a junction.

On the only twin of the group, Killurtv arrives at the junction.

We stop for a quick snack and discuss our next target.

Neff had never been on a playa and in what is common to all who visit surface for the first time - kinda mind blowing. We all take off for the west end and a road that will take us to the next playa which is significantly larger.

Neff had never been on a playa and in what is common to all who visit surface for the first time - kinda mind blowing. We all take off for the west end and a road that will take us to the next playa which is significantly larger.

Fields for lunch but they close at 4m so we gotta roost. Check this girl out!

Killurtv - I was hoping for one of those ultra poof shots but its not very deep right now.

Strange weather day. It seemed much colder up north here but we were at the same elevation as camp.

Could not resist jamming on the brakes and waiting for the next rider to get this pic.

Ive ridden this road many times and missed the one-hundred year washout but every single time Ive been here its as if a grader came through an hour before. Today was no different!

Its only a few miles, maybe 5 or 6 but we were smashing fresh berms back in there and flying on that perfect downhill flat track! Neffr

Out onto the playa for another 15 miles of November desert beauty

Check her out!

It was such a beautiful moment out there we had to stop and soak it in for a few minutes. Thats right Neff!

KTM 990 speed test with MrDualsport riding it.

115 mph indicated

We blazed down to Fields. On the way, I saw a large puff of smoke from one of the bikes a mile or more ahead. Smelled burnt oil, turned out to be Professors WP shock blew up all over the header. Freezing 35 miles back to camp - no photos of that but heres Killurtv arriving at camp.

More after dinner shannigans in the spring including visitors but I dont have any shots of them.

Looking good so far, keep it coming! I was out there about a week after the fires burnt out. There was a spot on the Whitehorse Ranch road where a few wild horses didn't outrun the fire. I didn't take pictures of it because it was kind of morbid.

I see you got prime real estate at Willow. You must have had the whole place to yourselves. That camp spot is usually the first one taken.